Webster H. Pilcher, M.D., Ph.D.

Webster H. Pilcher, M.D., Ph.D. is the Ernest & Thelma Del Monte Distinguished Professor of Neuromedicine and Chairman of Neurosurgery at the University of Rochester Medical Center in Rochester, New York. Dr. Pilcher pursued his undergraduate studies at Colgate University and received his MD/PhD (Neuroscience/Anatomy) at the University of Rochester where he was elected to the Alpha Omega Alpha medical honor society. Following Neurosurgical training at the University of Rochester, he was awarded the Charles A. Ellsberg fellowship to study epilepsy and brain tumor surgery with George Ojemann, MD, at the University of Washington in Seattle. In the fall of 1990, Dr. Pilcher returned to the University of Rochester on the faculty of Neurosurgery where he developed a nationally recognized epilepsy monitoring and surgery program, performing operations in Rochester and Cyprus and publishing extensively on the topic.

In 2002, Dr. Pilcher was appointed Chair of Neurosurgery at the University of Rochester Medical Center and began the transformation of a small clinical service Department into a nationally recognized academic and clinical enterprise. He promoted Neurosurgery leadership in therapeutic discovery for brain and spinal diseases and his recruitment of scientific and clinical faculty has vaulted URMC Neurosurgery to a top 5 ranking nationally in funding with over $7.9 million in total funding annually. He developed a community–wide Neurosurgery initiative (Rochester Neurosurgery Partners) which emphasizes collaboration rather than competition among Rochester physicians, health systems and payers; and which is focused upon improving quality, outcomes and cost of care for Rochester patients with stroke, brain tumors, neurodegenerative diseases, spinal disorders and other Neuromedicine afflictions. As leaders of the Rochester Neurosurgery community joined Dr. Pilcher in this effort and, as talented young surgeon – scientists were recruited from the finest institutions in the country, the Department has grown to national stature with subspecialty programs in every sector of Neurosurgery now available to patients in Rochester and the surrounding region.

Dr. Pilcher has grown the Department from 5 to 12 Neurosurgeons which now provides leadership of Neurosurgery at all four Rochester hospitals and staffs 11 regional outreach clinics. As a result of his focus on quality indicators and cost effective care, he has secured funding from major partners in the area (hospitals and insurance companies) to develop and implement a database which will capture and analyze the cost and quality of the care provided to Rochester patients with Neuromedicine diseases.
In recognition of his vision of an integrated Neuromedicine-centered home, in 2007, Dr. Pilcher was appointed the head of the URMC Neuromedicine integrated disease program and has continued to create, with his Neuromedicine faculty, patient focused, cost effective programs to care for the growing population of patients with Neurological diseases and disabilities.

Dr. Pilcher cites his personal accomplishments as his family: Allyson to whom he has been married for 37 years, sons Webster and Brad, daughter Elisabeth and son-in-law Richard and three granddaughters. He currently resides in Honeoye Falls, New York with Allyson and his 3 golden retrievers.